Combined wall and awning structure



Dec. 13, 1966 J. c. DASHIO 3,291,453

COMBINED WALL AND AWNING STRUCTURE Filed May 11, 1964 5 Sheets-$heet l Dec. 13, 1966 J. c. DASHIO COMBINED WALL AND AWNING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1964 Dec. 13, 1966 J. c. DASHIO COMBINED WALL AND AWNING STRUCTURE i3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 11, 1964 United States Patent 3,291,453 COMBINED WALL AND AWNING STRUCTURE John C. Dashio, Gibsonia, Pa., assignor of thirty-three Filed May 11, 1964, Ser. No. 366,339 6 Claims. (Cl. 2561) This invention relates to combination fence and shade closures for swimming pools, patios and the like and it is among the objects thereof to provide a sectional closure for swimming pools made of panels which are adapted to be raised on a vertical and inclined track to form awning-like shade structures.

It is a further object of the invention to provide fencing and shade panel structures of the above-designated character which are counter-balanced and movable in guideways wherein they are secured by interlocking structural members and stops.

The invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings which constitute a part hereof in which like reference characters desigriate like parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a combination panel fence and shade structure for a swimming pool embodying the principles of this invention;

FIGURES 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are side elevational views of the combination closure and awning structures illustrating various positions of the panel members;

FIGURE 8 is an isometric view of a portion of the supporting frames and panel structures, partially cut away to illustrate the mounting and locking elements of the panel and supports;

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view of a guide block and locking mechanism; and,

FIGURE 10 is an isometric view of the panel assembly illustrating the vertical and inclined position of the panel relative to their guide supports.

With reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a swimming pool within a closure consisting of a plurality of fixed and movable panel members 2 and 3, respectively. The panels 2 may be mounted in the usual manner to remain fixed to function as a peripheral fence or closure and the panels 3 may be raised from their vertical position to an inclined position to function as awnings to furnish shade for lounging therebeneath. All of the sides of the closure may of course be constructed of the movable panel 3 type or only one wall or a portion of a wall of the closure of the movable panel type.

The panel and supporting frame construction is shown in FIGURE 8 and consists of vertical supports 4 that are set in cement bases 5 to make them self-sustaining uprights, the members 4 being of I shape to form guideways for the panels and have similar shaped rafter-like extensions 6. In FIGURE 8, a portion of the I member is cut away, as shown at 7 and 8, leaving the web portion 9 exposed. The cut-out portions provide clearance for the panel as it is raised and tilted to slide in the rafter-like section 'of the support, as shown in FIGURES 2 to 7 of the drawing. In FIGURE 8, the inside flange portion is cut away at 10 to allow the panel to be tilted inward, as shown in FIGURES 5 to 7 of the drawing, and in FIGURE 10 the flanges are cut away at the outside, as shown at 11 and 12, to permit the panel to be tilted outwardly, as shown in FIGURES 2 to 4 of the drawings. The panels may have I-shaped side frames, as shown at 13 and 14, FIGURE 10 of the drawings, and U-shaped top and bottom frames 15 and 16, FIGURE 10, the latter having a handle 17 by which the panel may be raised. The panel body 18 may be of corrugated shape,

and one-third percent to William B. Jaspert, Pittsburgh,

Patented Dec. 13, 1966 as shown in FIGURE 10, and may be Fiberglas, aluminum or other material, as desired.

A guide block 20, FIGURE 9, is disposed in the U- shaped side portion or guide tracks designated by the numeral 21, FIGURE 10, and is secured to the upright by a pin 22 that extends through the web portion 9 of the upright at the juncture of the rafter sections 6. A coil spring 25 is fastened to the bottom of the guide block 20 and its other end is fastened to the bottom frame 16, as shown at 26, FIGURE 10, FIGURE 10 being an exploded view that shows the guide block separated from the vertical support and the pane-l frame 14. The guide block may be provided with anti-friction rollers 27 and 27a so that the panel frames are easily movable and the guide block is provided with a concave recess 28 which receives a roller 29 of a panel lock. The roller 29 is mounted on a lever 30 secured to the panel frame at 31, lever 30 being biased by a spring 32 in a downward direction to snap into the concavity 28 of the guide block when the panel is raised. Covers 33 protect the block roller 29, as shown in the exploded view in the upper lefthand corner of FIGURE 10. A lock pin 35 that engages the countersunk drill hole 36 in the guide block 20 is provided to secure the panel in its lower position and latches 37 and 37a, respectively are provided, as shown in FIGURE 8, that engage drill holes in the web portion 9 of the rafter elements to securely hold the panels in the upper tilted position.

In operation, the panels 3 are raised with the aid of the coil springs 25 which counter-balance the weight of the panel and when the panel is partly raised, as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, it is tilted, as shown in FIGURE 3, and slid into rafter element between the I beam top and bottom flanges which are marked 40 and 41 in FIGURE 3. The panel is then slid forward to extend beyond the rafter element and below the rafter element to form an awning, as shown in FIGURE 4. It is locked in this position by the latches 36 and 37.

In the construction of the panel mount of FIGURE 8, the panel is raised beyond the flange element 10, as shown in FIGURE 5, to clear the flange element 10, as shown in FIGURE 5. It is then tilted inwardly, as shown in the drawing, and pushed forward until it clears the cut-away portion 8, FIGURE 8, of the top flange of the rafter element. It is then shoved forward in the tilted position and locked, as shown in FIGURE 7.

In FIGURE 8, the panel is also shown latched in its down position with the latch 37 engaging a drill hole in the web of the upright in which the panel slides.

It is evident from the foregoing description of this invention that a combination panel fence and awning structure made in accordance therewith, forms a sturdy fence that protects the owner from trespassers, children and animals to prevent accidents when the pool is not is use. It also furnishes complete privacy when the panels are in their lower position.

By easy motion, the panels are raised and tilted and the pool becomes an attractive place for entertainment, furnishing sun shade around any portion of the pool, as desired, with tables and lounge chairs fitting underneath the panels. These structures are particularly adapted for swimming and country clubs and also for commercial pools.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A sectional closure of swimming pools, patios and the like comprising panel units mounted between retaining elements of self-sustaning uprights to form a continuous wall, each of said uprights being a common support for adjacent panels and having guideways for the sides of said panels, said uprights having inclined rafter-like extension portions at the'top constituting continuous guideways for movement of the panels therebetween, said uprights having slide mounts on which the panels slide freely first in an upward vertical direction and continuing in a substantial horizontal direction to make vent openings in the panel Wall and form awning-like shade structures in their raised position, and said uprights and their extension portions having means for retaining the panels in alignment with their guideways.

2. A sectional closure for swimming pools, patios and the like as set forth in claim 1, in which the mounts on which the panels slide are rollers mounted on guide blocks disposed in the guideways of the uprights and the panels are provided with tracks for receiving said guide blocks and engaging said rollers.

3. A sectional closure for swimming pools, patios and the like, as set forth in claim 2, in which the rollers are mounted on blocks that are tiltably mounted at the juncture of the vertical and rafter-like extensions to be self-aligning with the tracks of the panel when the panels are raised and subjected to tilting movement.

4. A sectional closure for swimming pools, patios and the like, as set forth in claim 3, in which the blocks carrying the rollers are recessed and the panel members have means for interlocking with said recesses to tilt the blocks in their raised position.

5. A sectional closure for swimming pools and the like, asset forth in claim 1, in which the uprights and their extension portions have flange portions extending over the side edges of the panels to maintain alignment of the panels with their guideways.

6. A sectional closure for swimming pools and the like, as set forth in claim 5, in which the panels have flanged sides disposed within the guideways of said uprights to constitute guideways for the slide mounts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS REINALDO P. MACI-IADO, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SECTIONAL CLOSURE OF SWIMMING POOLS, PATIOS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING PANEL UNITS MOUNTED BETWEEN RETAINING ELEMENTS OF SAID-SUSTAINING UPRIGHTS TO FORM A CONTINUOUS WALL, EACH OF SAID UPRIGHTS BEING A COMMON SUPPORT FOR ADJACENT PANELS AND HAVING GUIDEWAYS FOR THE SIDES OF SAID PANELS, SAID UPRIGHT HAVING INCLINED RAFTER-LIKE EXTENSION PORTIONS AT THE TOP CONSTITUTING CONTINUOUS GUIDEWAYS FOR MOVEMENT OF THE PANELS THEREBETWEEN, SAID UPRIGHTS HAVING SLIDE MOUNTS ON WHICH THE PANELS SLIDE FREELY FIRST IN AN UPWARD VERTICAL DIRECTION AND CONTINUING IN A SUBSTANTIAL HORIZONTAL DIRECTION TO MAKE VENT OPENINGS IN THE PANEL WALL AND FORM AWNING-LIKE SHADE STRUCTURES IN THEIR 